Machine for folding



(No Model.)

J. T. EARLE, J. J. GOODQ& H. REDMON. MAUHINE FOR FOLDING STRIPS OF PAPER, &c.

No. 465 522. Patented Dec. 22, 1891.

fliies: J J Jdkfnlaniorfi 7! f 4%... w W 1455071291! Nrrn STATES JAMES T. EARLE, OF COVINGTON, AND JOSHUA J. GOOD AND HOPE REDMON, OF OYNTHIANA, KENTUOKY.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING STRIPS OF PAPER, 84.6.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Patent No. 465,522, dated December 22, 1891.

Application filed June 5, 1891. Serial No. 395,262. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES T. EARLE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, and JOSHUA J. GOOD and HOPE REDMON, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Cynthiana, in the county of Harrison and State of disks shown in Fig. 2.

Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Folding Strips of Paper and Like Material, 9f which the following is a specification.

\Vhile our invention may be employed for various purposes, one of the principal obj ects of the invention is to be employed as an auxiliary in connection with a recording apparatus of various kinds.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, and towhich reference is hereby made, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the mechanism, illustrating our invention. In this figure a portion of the reel wound with paper for supplying the machine and of the frame for upholding the reel is omitted for lack of room. Fig. 2 is a crosssection in the main horizontal plane of the right-hand cylinder, taken at the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing that face of the section which faces upward in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the pins for successively actuating the trip-lever and the preferred mechanism for holding these pins and rendering them adjustable. Fig. 4: is an elevation of either face of the inner of the two Fig. 5 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 and showing the preferred form of device for holding the reel of paper. Fig. -6 is a section of the hub and fixed journal of the left-hand cylinder shown in Fig. 1, and also showing in section the manner in which the lever carrying the pawl for rotating the cylinders is hung, in

connection with the said journals and the f'disks for supporting the tripping arms or fin- 'gers. tions of the cylinders A and B which in Fig.

Fig.7 is an enlarged view of those porit-are in juxtaposition and illustrating the "mode in which the paper is folded and seized by the gripping mechanism. Fig. 8 is a view of the end of one of the guideways and of the adjacent portion of the cylinder and illustrating the manner in which the tooth orprojection R of the guide way enters the peripheral groove R of the cylinder.

In this machine are two cylinders, respectively indicated by theletters A and B. Each cylinder rotates on an axis M concentric with it. axis is by securing its rear end fixedly to the supporting-frame P, as shown. Each cylinder has a radial back or connection X, where by it is connected with that central portion of it which forms its journal-bearing, revolving upon the axis M. This journal-bearing is preferably extendedforward, in which event it forms a hub, which may be indicated by Y. The bearing Y may be secured in place and from slipping forward or rearward along the axis M by any suitable means. In the present illustrative instance the bearing is prevented from sliding rearward by means of the presence of the supportingfranie P, as hereinafter specified. WVhile the disk or plate N is primarily designed for a different and more important function, we utilize it to prevent the bearing Y from slipping forward on said axis. The disk N is located at the end of the shaft, and the hub is ext-ended out forwardly until its front end bears against this disk N. Thus each cylinder is at all times kept in the same radial plane and is free to turn. The arrangement of each cylinder on its respective axis is =such that the peripheral surface of one cylinder shall be opposite the peripheral surface of the other cylinder. These cylinders come nearly into contact atone point, substantially as indicated in Fig. l of the drawings. These cylinders revolve simultaneously, and being of the same peripheral diameter they revolve at the same speed. Mechanism to accomplish this simultaneous rotation is employed, and that here used, as shown, consists of gear 0 0. Each cylinder is provided with such a gear O, forming a complete circle and extending beyond the plane of the periphery of the cylinder sufficiently far to engage the gear of the other cylinder at the point where the cylinders themselves meet, as aforedescribed. This gear may be affixed directly on the edge of the periphery of the cylinder. For conven ience of construction we provide an extra dis- The preferable mode of supporting this- Ice cal plate or annular rim having radial arms connected to a hub or bearing located upon axis 1 and turning thereon. This discal plat-e O is fixed to the rear side of the radial back or plate X of the cylinder, and consequently the plate 0 and the cylinder 0 at all times rotate together. On the peripheral edge of this plate 0 are formed the gear-?'. e.,the teeth (3.

At the point where the cylinders come most nearly into contact with one another the distance between them is such as to permit the strip of paper or other flexible material which is to be folded to pass between the peripheral opposing faces of the cylinders and at thesame time be sufficiently pressed between them as to i be drawn forcibly. forward and upward asthe cylinders rotateand at. the same rate of speed as that at which therpe riphery of each cylinder travels Mechanism for: imparting a rotary'movement is present, and. the preferred kind of such: mechanism'consists as follows: On the inner edge of one of these hollowcylinders is lOcated'a'ratchet'A whose teeth point back- Ward from the direction? in which= the periphery?of theicylinder is t'obe rotated. Oneend of a leveltanm- E'is'pivotally.swungon va-pivot of: which axi's M is acenter. This arm Eis hungon thehub Y between the dislrN-v and aesshoulderrof the hubY", and. is-. thus-pre ventedifrom" slipping laterally alon thersaid axis. The lever also keeps thehub (shortened for'thepurpo'se of thus admitting the lever E. to-thc' axis M') from: slipping-forward on the, axis and thus. movingout of place; The lowerend portion of this lever,- is Suit:- ably connected to mechanism for; imparting toitiareciprocatory' motion, andione kind-of such mechanism. will be shortly hereinafter described.

To the lever E is pivotally connected: one end: of a pawlE Whose *pointed'free end successivelyengages :teeth in theratchet-gear A3. As-theleverE is advanced-namely, moved fromleft'to right-thepawl E engages a=tooth of'theratc'het'and rotates the cylinder: tov an extent isubstantially that of themovement of lever'ETal'ong a curved'line described by the pivoti connecting thepawl' to the saiddever. The rotation ofcylinder A also rotates cylinder'Bz As'theleverEis moved back-ward.- viz:',from'right to left.-in order to place it'and th'e'p'aw-l E5 in readiness to impart another forwardmovement to the cylindersAandB, allretrograde movement'of the cylindersis prevented bya device,as pawl G .whosef'ree endinthemeantime engages a tooth of the ratchet-gear A Theother' end of'this pawl G is-:pivotally connected to a proper support, aszG in turn: connected to afixed support, in this instance a" part H of the frame."

Of course. the shape and details of constructionofthe 'supportingeframe P may be and areieto' be--varied-lto suit the particular tasteof thexmaker; and: where our invention: is to-be employed in connectionwitha recording apparatus the particular construction of the said ,which our invention is to be applied or attached.

In the drawings the supporting-frame P extends'up back of the cylinders, as before indicated, and near its bottom is provided with the flanges H extending forward, and each of said flanges H is in turn respectively connected to the upper end of the respective Vertical legs H H.

nected toany suitable base or support. Further description of such base or support is omitted, as being deemed unnecessary.

The lever E is to be reciprocated by suitable mechanism aud where this folding. device, is connected'witharecording-instrument which, prior tothe paper or other flexible substance tobefolded,writ'es or otherwise marksthereon therequisite characters the le-VerE is preferably connected to the mochanism of such instrument, and. so that the marking upon: the paper and the folding of the paper previously marked shall bevsynchronous.-

Aconvenientdevice of our invention for reciprocating. theleverE shown. and; isas follows: A- right-angled leverhaving: arm F andiarmF is at the pointof its-.-angle.;rpiv.- oted bypivot F to as fixed: support' G which may, as shown, be:- fixed .to the adjacentflange H That end of levenF which lS'fI'BGrlIWOS- cillateis connected,to the lower-end of lever E, the modeinzwhich such connection is=made beingby'a slotE in the adjacentendof the lever: E, and api-vot or wrist. F, fixed in: they said endz'of leverF and moving in the. said.

slot'E 'oflever End flanges or heads-are preferably present-on the respective ends-of saidpivot F to keepit in place in leversF and'E. The freeend of arm F of this-rightangled lever carries aroller F pivotedthereto. Elevation of the free-endof the arm-F 'viz;,

at-ithe point F 'rnovesthe arm F from right toleft, and also the free. end of the-arm Ein the same direction, and the pawl is thus shifted from right to left along the ratchet A Mechanism, preferably" automatic, returns-.thelever-E and pawl E'- to their first position. In the present-instance a bentspring .Lpivotally oscillating on thepivot'. F has 'der"A, andr hence rot-atesboth of: thewcylindersA andB.

The latter are in turn con- D fixed to the back X of the cylinderand projecting forward from the said back. In the peripheral edge of each cylinder is a crossslot S, and the free end of the spring is 10-.

cated in said slot. The spring-arm D is set in this stud at such an angle that when not deflected by the devices hereinafter described,

and by human agency, the free end d will al-,

ways press against the upper edge or side of the slot S. This end of this spring-arm D is preferably beveled to quite a sharp edge. One end of a tripper-arm D is pivoted by a pivot D to the back of the cylinder, while the other end, curved substantially as shown for a purposehereinafter described, is free to oscillate. Fixed to the sleeve D which is pivoted on pivot D and carries said tripperarm D, is a stud D whose outer end portion rests against the side of the spring-arm D The effect of this relation and conjunction of parts is that when the free end e of the tripper-arm is, in cylinder B as it stands, moved upward, or, in cylinder A as it stands, moved downwardviz., in each case away from the adjacent stud D the tripper-arm will turn the outer end of the short stud or arm and press it against the spring-arm D and thus cause the latter to yield and the end of the latter to move away from the side d of the slot and leave aspace between said side d and the said end def the latter. The springarm D is to be twice thus operated by the tripper-arm D during a revolution of the cylinder. For the purpose of thus operating it we provide two studsviz., M and N The stud D forms two functions-viz., that of holding the spring-arm D and also that of a stop for the arm D. If it were not for this stop, the movement of the arm D from the recoil of the spring would throw the end e beyond the path of the projections M N thus rendering the tripping mechanism inoperative; also, without the stop D if the workmanship on sleeve D should be defective said recoil movement might tend to again throw spring-arm D awayfrom side d of the opening andreleasethepaper. lVhenthefoldingmec-hanism is in operation, these studs M and N are stationary, and for the purpose of rendering them thus stationary they are preferably fixed to the stationary journal or axis M; but in order to render the'operation of-the folding device at all times accurate and ef-. fective it becomes essential, in the first instance, when the parts of the machine are put together, and sometimes subsequently as the parts wear, and that unequally, to readjust the stud M and the stud N in relation to one another and to the other working portions of the machine. For these reasons we have made provision whereby these studs can be adjusted and readjusted as desired. The following devices of our invention respectively hold the studs and render them adj ustable. A discal plate M carries the stud M This plate is also provided with the concen-' tric slot M A discal plate N has a concentric slot N and a hole N interiorly screwthreaded. Both of the discal plates have a central opening or perforation N The shank of a screw N passes through the slot M and is screwed through the opening N and projects inwardly beyond the inner face of the disk N, substantially as shown in Fig. 3. The stud M is fixed in the disk M and passes through the slot N of the disk N and projects beyond the inner side of the disk N. The relative positions of the hole N and the slots N and M and the stud M are such that abundant opportunity is afforded for changing the relative positions of the studs M3 and N so as to properly operate the tripper-arm. Such ad justmentis accomplished by unscrewing the screw N and changing the position of the stud M in relation to the position of the stud N as necessary,'and then fixing the studs in. such position by screwing forward the screw'N and tightly clamping diskM between disk N and the head of the said screw N The desired stationary position of these studs and disks in reference to the cylinder to which they belong is obtained bypassing the shank of screw M through the central openin gin each of the disks M and N and screwing it into the adjacent end of the journal M-.viz., into an interiorly-screw-threaded opening in-the.

said journal-and tightening the said screw on said disk N, substantially as shown more particularly in'Fig. 2. To enable the two disks tobe quickly and accurately combined 'together concentrically, the disk M'has an outlying peripheralflange.M extending inwardly from the inner face of this disk. Within this flange and closely fitting thereto the'disk Nis placed. On that side of the periphery of each cylinder and diametrically opposite'where slot S is located is a transverse folding-blade Z, preferably quite thin, substantially as shown in the figures of the drawings, and more particularly in Fig. '7.

Above the cylinders are located the guide- I ways or storage-receptacles J J one over each cylinder,'as shown. Each guideway is open at that side of it which faces toward a vertical plane passingbetweenthe cylinders.

J is a yoke connecting together the opposite guideways J'J, and in turn connected to the back PM the device.

In order to properlycompress the. folded paperand prevent the latter from prematurely rising up out of the guideways, a strip or piece V of metal or other suitable material extends across the tops of the cylinders, and

.IOO

IIO

one end is located in one guideway and the other end in the other guideway, and as fast as the folded paper is introduced beneath it, it: rises in the guideways.

In the periphery of each cylinder is a longitudinal groove R, extending around the cylinder. At the foot of the outer wall of each guideway is a lug RT, which fits into the guideway and prevents the folded end. of paper from passing beyond said point.

The mode in which our invention operates is as follows: The strip T' of paper'or other flexible material fed to our machine is passed when necessary under a suitable guide-roller T and thence upward and through the guideloopT and thence between the cylinders A and B, as shown. The strip T passes between the cylinders as the latter are rotated. One of the slots S-say, for example, that of cylinder -B.first comes close to the cylinder A, and so that the slot will be in a plane passing through the axes of both journals M M of said cylinders. In reaching this position the tripper-arm has been moved by the stud N and the end (1 of the spring-arm D has been forced down from the-side d of the slot S,and in this position the slot comes in juxtaposition with. the folding-blade, and the latter enters the slot S. As the folding-blade enters the slot S it forces the strip T into the slot, as. shown in Fig. 7. As the cylinders continue to be rotated the end e of the tripperarmslips off the stud N and the spring-arm returns to the side or edge d of the slot S, the

folding-blade in the meantime passing out of graspsthe strip between it and the edge cl of the slot S and firmly holds it there in position, and at the same time there folds. the strip. As therotation of the cylinders is continued this end cl of the spring-arm D carries the stripthus folded up and to the right over the cylinder B into the right-hand guideway and on down to the right-hand or outer wall of the'said guideway. WVhen nearing-this latter point, the end eof the tripper-arm D is moved by the stud M and the end d of the springarm D is again moved away from the edge (1' of slot S, and the folded edge of the strip T, up to this time carried in the said slot S, is released therefrom. Should this folded edge perchance stick in the slot, the stud R in the groove R will cause it to be withdrawn therefrom. The plate V rests upon the folded edge and keeps it from rising too high in the right-hand guideway. After the cylinders are rotated a short distance farther the sl-otS of the other cylinder A and the end (1 of its spring-arm D held away'from the edge d of said slot come into conjunction with a folding-blade of the cylinder 13, and that portion of the strip T between said folding-blade and slot is forced into said slot and is there folded in the same manner as the preceding fold of said strip was made and is carried up and to the left over the cylinder A into the left-hand guideway J, and whennear the left-hand wall of the latter is released and leaves the slot S in the same manneras the preceding fold left the slot S of cylinder B. The plate V rests upon this new fold and holds it down upon or close to'cylinder B. As the cylinders continue to be rotated these operations are continued until all of the record necessary to be made on said strip is completed. \Vhen a record has been previously marked on the strip, as will usually be the case, the folded strip can be readily lifted out of the guide- Ways, examined and referred to, and then replaced for future use. Any desired length of the folded strip can be detached and can be conveniently filed in the folded form.

nal XV of the latter being respectively journaled in the respective sides W W. On this spindle is wound the strip T tov be fed to our folding device, either directly or through a recording-machine, and thence to our folding device. The frame W W W W isprovided with a bracket W affixed to. the end.W viz, that endnearest the folding device-and this bracket W is pivoted by vertical pivot W to the bracket V fixed to the adjacent end of the folding devioeor to a fixed support near the latter.

At any time when the folding-machine is not in use the frame WV W W W and its spindle with strip wound thereon can be swung around and thrown back against the back of the folding device out of the way, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. When to be used, it is returned to the position shown in black lines in said Fig. 5.

lVhile the various features of our invention are preferably employed together, one or more of the said features may be used without the remainder, and in so far as applicable one or more of the said features may be used in connection with mechanism for folding strips of paper of a description other than the one herein specified.

VtThat we claim as new and of our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination of the two rotatable cylinders A and B, each provided with devices at periphery for seizing and folding the strip T passing between them, and the tripperarm D, having its end curved, and studs M and N against which the ends of the respective tripper-arms strike as the cylinders revolve, substantially as and for the purposes specified. I

2. The combination of the two rotatable cylinders A and B, each provided with devices at periphery for seizing and folding the strip T passing between them, and the tripper-arm D, having its end curved, and studs M and N against which the ends of therespective trip-- per-arms strike as the cylinders revolve, and the stop D against which the (ripper-arm strikes after being released from its operating-stud, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination of the two rotatable cylinders A and B, and the tripper-arm D, having its end curved, and studs M and N against which the ends of the respectivetripper-arms strike-as the cylinders revolve, and the stops D against which the tripper-arm strikes after being released from its operating-stud, and the spring-arm D held in said stop D substantially as and'for the purposes specified.

4. In combination with the cylinders, a reciprocating arm D and a tripper-arm having a stud D for actuating the said arm, and the studs M and N and the disks M and N, provided with devices for rendering the studs M and N adjustable, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In combination with the cylinders, a reciprocating arm D and atripper-arm having a stud D for actuating the said arm, and the disks M and N, the disk M having slot M and stud M and the disk N having slot N through which passes said pin M and also having screw hole N, through which is screwed the stud N the latter clamping the disk M to the disk N, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In combination with the cylinders, a reciprocating arm D and a tripper-arm having a stud D for actuating the said arm, and the disks M and N, the disk M having slot M and stud M and the disk N having slot N through which passes said pin M and also having screw-hole .N through which is screwed the stud N the latter clamping the disk M to the disk N, each disk having a central opening-and secured to the fixed journal M, the disk M having outlying flange M and the diskN fitting within said flange and against disk M, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. The combination of the cylinders and mechanism therewith, substantially as described, for seizing and folding the strip, the reciprocating lever pivoted on an axis concentric with the cylinders, and pawl E, pivoted to the said reciprocating lever, and ratchet A fixed to the cylinder and turning therewith, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. The combination of the cylinders and mechanism therewith, substantially as described, for seizing and folding the strip, the reciprocating lever pivoted on an axis concentric with the cylinders, and pawl E, pivoted to the said reciprocating lever, and

ratchet A fixed on the side of the periphery,

and the teeth pointing inward, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In combination with the cylinders and mechanism therewith, substantially as described, for seizing and folding the strip, the reciprocating lever E, and pawl E, connected thereto, and ratchet A connected to the cylinder, the lever being swung from the journal M and connected to the right-angled lever F F the latter being pivoted at its bend by pivot F to a fixed support, as G substantially as and for the purposes specified.

10. In combination with the cylinders and mechanism therewith, substantially as described, for seizing and folding the strip, the reciprocating lever E, and pawl E, connected thereto, and ratchet A connected to the cylinder, and pawl G, pivoted to a fixed'support, as G substantially as and for the purposes specified.

11. In combination with the cylinders and mechanism therewith, substantially as described, for seizing and folding the strip, the reciprocating lever E, and pawl E, connected thereto, and ratchet A connected to the cylinder, the lever being swung from the journal M and connected to the right-angled lever F F the latter being pivoted at its bend IOC reciprocating lever E, and pawl E, connected IIO located above their respective cylinders, and

the plate or strip V, located in the said guide- 'ways and operated by means of its weight, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JAMES T. EARLE. JOSHUA J. GOOD. HOPE REDMON.

Attest:

J. T. HALL, H. P. TALBOT, W. H. THROCKMORTON, S. J. WILLIAMS. 

